Thomas Borchert wrote:

Jose,


So pilots can evaluate their bag of alternate plans with an eye to which
would be more appropriate.



Ok, let's assume the controller knows there's an accident AND they have the
time and free mind capacity to say it on the frequency. Then what? For that
info to be useful, you'd have to know how long it's going to take to clear
up. I'd wager the controllers did not know that.

The point is that now the pilots would also know that ATC didn't know,
but they could also surmise that it would be quite some time given the
circumstances. Many likely would have found an alternate thus relieving
some of the congestion.

Matt